Double-signal speed-warning device.



No. 828,902. PATENTED AUG. 2l, 1906. S. L. SAUNDERS. DOUBLE SGNAL SPEED WARNING'DEVCE. APPLICATION FILED JULY281905.

` UMTED STATES E @FERIE SAMUEL L. sAUNDERs, OF Boeren,y ifnissncnnssrrs, AssIONOR, BY Diener AND Masiva assicuri/raars; TO GEORGE M. roeren, or

ESTGN, MASSACHUSETTS.

DQUQLE-SHGNAL SPEEDWARNlNG DEVHC'E.

' No..v 828,902.

Specification of Letters Patent. A

' Patented Aug; 21, 1905.

application 51e-d my 28, 1905. serai No. 271,650.

.To @ZZ whom/.zit irl/ty con/cern:

' Be it known that I, SAMUEL L.' SAUNDERS, or Boston, in the county of .Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain nevvy and vuseful 'improvements in Double-SignalV Spee,d`ili7a.rn1ng Devices, of-Which the follow-.f

ing is a specification.

vmechanism and' indicating paratus.

The object of this inventionus to provide a device by which' the speed of moving part of machinery or o'an automobile or other vehicle may be at once rendered `evident to the eye and also bywhich' an audible ysignal may be made whenever the speed reaches or 3 represent cross-sectional views taken on' lines 2 2 and 3 3, respectively, oi Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent,- respectively, perspective ,views in detail Oi elements or' the ap- Fig. 6 represents a horizontal secl tional detail of the bell-striking device.

.Y The same reference characters indicate the same arts ie all the figures.

Re erring tothe drawings, 1 denotes a movpart, which may-be the axle or' one ofthe f e gime-shafts of an automobile, or it may be mg n s ait of any'machine of which the speed is required'to be indicated.

2 represents a guideway which is mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis 3 and is driven from the shaft 1 by any suitable driving connection, such as the bevelgears 4 5", the former of which is keyed to the shaft while the other is rigidly connected in.y any suitable manner to' the guideway.

Mounted upon the guideway 2, so as'to. be capable ci 1sliding longitudinally thereon, is a 'weight 6, 'which is freely vmovable and is adapted to be thrown out from the axis of rotation of the guide 'l hy centrifugal force.

lt is rigidly connected a rod 7, mounted internally Ain the guide 2 and movable longitudinally thereof. Thisl rod 'Z has an rusten'-A sion-'rod 8, about'whic'h is placed a spring, 9 bearing at one end against an abutment 10 in the guide and` at the other end against-a ynut V11, adjustably mounted in screvv-thread ed engagement with the rod 8. As will be readily seen, the unction'oi the spring is to draw'the weghtt'oward the center of rotation, to hold it at its innermostlimit when stationary, and to resist the action of centrifugal force. I By adjusting the nut 11 the resistance of the spring may be made greatery or less, as desired, so that the amount of motion permitted to the Weight 6 forl the same variations in speed, may be'altered, andfthus' the sensitiveness of the apparatus made of any degree required.

vUpon the rod 7 is adjustably and rigidly mounted an upwardly-projecting blade l2, which has a cam-surface 13 for communicating motion from the centrifugally-operated weight to an external visible indicator. This vindicator consists of a pointer 141-, adjacent a,

relatively iixed dial 15, which. latter is provided with suitable graduations and figures to be read in miles per hour or any other units in which it is required that the speed of the machine should be' expressed.

One manner in which the Apointer is operated consists of the pinion 17 to Which'the pointer is attached, and a reci rocating rack 18, attached to a rod 19,Whicextends pari tially through a guideWay 20, in which it may be'suitably held by a feather or a key, so as to be free'to move longitudinally therein; but

to be prevented from rotating. Its lower vend engages' with a short section of shating, o: rod 21, which bears u on the cam-'surface 13 of the member 12.

ts lower end is preferably slotted,l so as to embracethe sides .of the member 12, whereby danger of its dlslplacement is avoided. In orderl to provide a secure connection between the rods 19 and 21, the former may have a centrally-located reduced dylindrical extension 22, projecting'.

into a socket in the part 21.

The operation oi the device will new lbe readily apparent, and it will be seen that as the guide member 2 is rotated with greater orless speed the Weight i's impelled more or less from the axis 3, drawing with it the rods and 8 and compressing spring d. As rod l'7 'is' thus moved, `the blade 12'is corre ond. .ingly.moved, and the cam-surface 13 t ereof the positions which the weight 6 occupies are distant from the axis by amounts proportional to the speed, the pointer is correspondin l actuated to indicate the speed upon the dial4 By suitably proportioning the sizes, Weights,

&c., of the parts and adjusting them properly the pointer may be made to read with great accuracy the vexact rate of speed` at which the moving part whose speed is to be indicated is traveling. y

The indicating device above described gives warning only to the eye of the speed, and in order that an audible warning may be given when the speed attains a certain amount I provide a sounding device, such as a gong 23, and a striking device 24, which has aportion 25 extendedinto proximity with the mechanism before described. An actuatorf26 is mounted upon the rod 7 and is movable therewith so that the circular path in which it travels 'is determined by the speed of the apparatus. When the speed-is great enough, the actuator 26 is moved out where it will engage the member 25 and acfl tuate the latter to strike the gong andprduce a sound. Thereby warning may bev given when a machine has reached an excessive or dangerous speed, which will attract attention if the dial and pointer are not visile. This device is of especial utility for use with automobile vehicles, and the .owners of such vehicles may be compelled by the authorities to place the dial Where it will be exposed outwardly, so that a policeman can tell l at a glance what the speed of the wagon is and can determine whether the speed regulations are being violated.

The gong-actuator 26 will preferably be arranged vto cause the gong to ring when the 'vehicle is traveling at such an excessively high rate of speed that the position of the'indicator 14 on the dial cannot' be distinguished, and if the regulation of this device is determined by law the sound alone will show that the speed regulation is violated.l The gong will also serve as a Warning to pedestrians' and other parties on the road, which will be automatically actuated when the speed i becomes very great and will give indication of the vehicles approach and which is independent of voluntary actuation of the warning bell or horn by the driver.

When alpplied to an automobile, the mechanism wil f' the gear-box `ofthe driving-axle or at, any

When a device of this character is used by police authority, the door will be ordinarily preferably be inclosed in a vdust-4'- 'proof case 27 lwhich may be mounted upon' tension of the spring may be made by ad` '-.ju'stments of the cam projection 12. This cam member is mounted upon a block 29, which has inclined sides andis seated in -an undercut' dovetail groove 30 in' the upper side of the bar 7. A set-screw 31 by pressing against the face of the b ar clamps the sides of the block against the inclined sides of the groove '30 and clamps the block in any adjusted position. The .bell-actuating projection 26 is also formed upon a similar block 32, which is clamped in the same manner vby a `set-screw 33, so' that it may beadjusted at any point desired. along the length of the bar.

j Thus when this member is set near its outer .limit of adjustment it will actuate the bell after only a slight movement of the weight and` actua-tor due to centrifugal force lbut` when moved inwardly it will not come into position toengage the striker 24 until aftera much greater movement away from the axis of rotation, and consequently not until the speed of the vehicle. or machine to which the apparatusis applied has become comparatively great. A spring 38may restore 4the bell-striker after each actuation thereof.

' ,Inorder to reduce frictional resistance td movement of the weight, and thereby render the device more sensitive and accurate, l provide an antifriction-bearing for the vweight upon the guide member 2, this bearing 'con'- sisting of a series offsteel balls 34, retained -in runways 35 and/entering grooves .36 in Ithe upper surface of the side mem-bers of the guide. There is also a further provision for vadjusting the' position of the Weight on the bar orrod 7, this. being additional to the spring 9. A dovetail tongue 37 is formed on the weight in the opening which receives the guideand .bar and is so arranged' that it will enter the .groove BO-nwhen 4the Weight is slipped into place. The tongue extends laeyond one end of the weight and has a setscrew 40, whichis crowded again/st the upper surface of the bar and acts `to clamp* the weight tothe bar in the same manner as the members 1 2 and 26 are clamped. .'At the end IOO ITO

of the'bar is a lug 41, i-nfwhich is threaded an adjustable stopscrew 4t2, extending toward the'A weight. L This stop-screw llimits the outward movementpf thefweight and obviates any d'angxer`- of its flying offthe end of the rod eaaeoe be placed in line with the axis 3, 'about which the weight revolves, and consequently a portion of the cam projection which engages rod 21 is in this` line. ABy reason of the construction of the member' 21, as previously described, whereby its-lower end .embraces the cam-blade, it is caused to rotate therewith,

and consequently it is constantly -rotated while the apparatus is in motion and moved reciprocally only when the rate of speed va- 'ries and the weight is thrownout or retracted.

Its engagement with the rod 19 is such as to .permit rotation relatively to the latter, while Y 'only vertical reciprocating motion is communicated. .By making the lrnen'iber 19 suifrciently heavy gravity alone willbe sufficient.

to cause this member to lower and carry the pointer back to zero when. the cam is retractbut, if desired, a suitable spring may be provided for lowering member 19 and the rack with greater force. A roll 39 is carried by the member 21 and engagesicam 12 to diclose an electric circuit.

mini'sh friction between ythese parts.

' In the foregoing specification I have d'escribed simply one form in which my invention may be embodied; but it is obvious that many alterations and changes may be made without affecting the scope ofthe invention. For instance, any other well-known device yforstriking the bell may be employedfor causing the bell to sound, and it is possible to have the bellrunelectrically, the projection 26 being used to produce a contact which will Any device other than a bell for making a sound may be substituted and used equally well. The dial also may be arranged otherwise than as shown, for it may be placed at one side of the axis of the rod 19 and the pointer be suitably geared so as to.-be operated thereby, and it may be arranged either in. a vertical or hori- Zontal plane, sluitable and well understood 'changes in the manner of gearing for operatweight mounted to slide thereon under the inc ing the pointer being made. claim- 1. In a device of the character'.` specified,

the combination of a rotary guide member, a weight mounted to slide thereon under the influence of centrifugal force, aprojection having a cam-surface connected to the weight, a reciprocatory member engaged with said cam-surface, and an indicator actuated by said reciprocatory member and adapted to be shifted by movement of the weight o n thev guide member.

2. In a device or the character specified, the combination of a rotary guide member, a

iiuence of centrifugal force, a projection hav.- ing a'cam-surface connected tothe weight, a reciprocatory member, an indicator connected for actuation by said reciprocatory `member,and an intermediate connection arranged for reciprocation and rotation in engagement Withthe reciprocatory member and the camsurface and adapted to be moved reciprocaliy by the cam-surface when' the latter and the .weight are shifted on the guide member.

3. .ln a deviceof the character specified, the combination of a rotary guide member, a weight mounted to slide thereon. under the influence of centrifugal force, a projection having a cam-surface connected to the weight, aA reeiprocatory member having a rack connected thereto, and Aan indicator in geared connection with vthe rack vand tarranged to be rotatedv by movement thereof, the arrangement of parts being such that movement ofthe weight and cam projection on the guide member will a'ctuate said iecip- -rocatory member and indicator proportionally. 4

4. ln a device of the characterspeciiied, the combination of a rotary guide member, a weight vmounted to slide thereon under the influence of centrifugal force, a bar or rod connected to said weight, a spring engaged with' said rod and with an abutment on the guide member arranged to act in. opposition to centrifugal force, an indicator, and cam mounted on the rod and movable therewith, connected. to actuate said indicator.

`5. in a device of the character specified,

the combination of a rotary guide member, a

weight mounted to slide thereon under the influence ofcentrifugal force, a bar or rod connected to said weight, a spring engaged with said rod and with an' abutment on the guide member arranged to act in opposition' to centrirugal force, an indicator, a' cam mounted on the rod and movable therewith, and a toothed member engaged with the indicator and connected to be actuated by the cam, whereby tlieindicator is moved proportionately to movements of the weight.

6. A centrifugal speed-warning devi'ee consisting of a tubular Guide mounted to rotate,

A`a rod or bar mounted for reciprocating there.- in, aweight connected to the rod and movable outward by centrifugal force, a spring surrounding a portion of ,the rod'and engag- A ing an abutment on the guide, an abutment on thev rod engaged by the spring and adjustable to vary the force thereof, the spring being arranged to retract the weight toward the axis of rotation of the guide, an indicator, and actuating connections between the rod and inroo a rod or bar mounted for reciprocating therein, a weight connected to the rod and movable outward by centrifugal force, a spring engaged with the rod acting to move the -weight toward the axis of rotation, a camprojection adjustably attached to the rod, a

ar engaged with said cam and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, an indicator, and an intermediate toothed connection geared to the indicator and adapted to communicate motion thereto from said bar.

9. A centrifugal speedwvarning 'device consisting'of a bar mounted to rotate about a center other than its own axis and guided so las to be movable toward and from its center of rotation, a weight connected to the bar and movable away from the center of rotation by centrifugal force, means for retractwing the bar and weight, a bell or gong, and an actuator therefor adjustably carried by the bar and arranged toactuate said bell or gong only when fthe Weight and bar have been projected outward a certain amount.

' 1-0. Ina device of the character specified, a bar. having anundercut channel, a pivot about which thebar isvadapted. to revolve, the bar bggig movable by centrifugal force aweuy from uch pivot, and an indicator-actuating meneer located in saidchannel and Constructd to be-clampedtherein.

1 1. Imdevice of the character specified, a

y bar havin; an undercut channel, and mounted to rotae about a pivot, being movable by centrifugal force awa from such pivot, a platte hfvinga base tting in said channel and a cam-surface,4 means for crowding the base of the plate against vthe walls of the 'channel to secure the plate therein, and

speed-indicating means arranged to be actu- 4o atedbyfthe cam-surface of said plate as lthe latter is moved.

' '12. In a-device ofthe/characterspeciiied,a'

bar mounted. to rot-ate and to be moved away from `the center-frotation by centrifugal nected to the bar adjacent the center of rotation, a rotatable and endwise-movable shaftl section in line with the axis of rotation of the -bar and engaged with the cam-surface of said member, and a speed-indicator connected for actuation by endwise movement of said shaft-section.

13. In a device of the character speciiied, a bar mounted to rotate and to be moved away from` the center of rotation by centrifugal force, a plate having a cam-surface connected tothe bar adjacent the center of rotation, a rotatable and endwise-movable shaft-section in line with the axis of rotation of the bar slotted to embrace the plate and engage with the cani-surface thereof, and a s eed-indicator connected for actuation liy endwise movement of said shaft-`section- 14. A centrifugal s eed-warning ldevice comprising a channele guide adapted to rotate about a pivot other than its own axis, a bar located and movable endwise in said guide, a weight surrounding the guide and bar and secured .to the latter, antifrictionballs between the guide and weight, sup orting the weight, and means operate by movement of the bar for indicating speed.

y 15. A centrifugal s eed-Warning device comprising a channele guide adapted to ro-` tate about a pivot other than its own axis, a bar located and movable endwise in said guide, a weight surrounding -the guide and a ed to be engaged by the weight, and speedindicating means operated by movement of thebar.

In testimony whereof I have axed signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL L. SAUNDE'RS. VVitnes-ses:l

' A. C.- RATIGAN, E. T GRAHAM.

r, a stop adjacent the end of the bar adapt- 

